Dr. Sergi Arfelis

Qualifications

• PhD in Environmental Sciences (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya)
• Master’s Degree in Industry 4.0 (Universidad Internacional de La Rioja)
• Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Energy (Universitat Rovira i Virgili)
• Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering (Universitat Rovira i Virgili)

Sergi has also pursued continuous learning to complement his expertise, including certifications in:

• Ethics for Engineers and Researchers (UPC)
• Scientific Writing (Stanford University)
• Python Programming for Engineers (UNIR)
• Applied techniques of energy efficiency in industrial processes (UCLM)

PhD Thesis

Sergi Arfelis completed his PhD, supervised by Dr. Pere Fullana and Dr. Alba Bala, at the UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change ESCI-UPF. His thesis, funded by Deasyl SA, focused on the development and application of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodologies to study and compare innovative, environmentally friendly chemical technologies developed by Deasyl with conventional alternatives. His research explored the industrialization potential of green processes at laboratory scale, using advanced chemical process simulation such as Aspen Plus or CosmoRS, and LCA tools.

During his PhD, Sergi actively contributed to the scientific community by engaging in environmental projects, presenting research at international conferences, participating in public debates, and publishing in esteemed scientific journals.

Professional Activity

Sergi Arfelis is currently the Life Cycle Assessment Project Manager at Ravago Manufacturing Europe, where he manages agile projects to deliver fast and reliable Life Cycle Assessments and Carbon Footprints for over 10,000 product grades. His role involves collaborating closely with plant managers and engineers across Europe to ensure timely and accurate sustainability assessments, supporting Ravago’s commitment to environmental excellence.

Previously, Sergi gained experience in various roles spanning research, teaching, consulting, and engineering:

• Process development Engineer at Deasyl SA, leading the design, operation, and scale-up of a biodiesel pilot plant, performed environmental and economic assessments, developed process simulations in AspenPlus, and fostered collaborations with industrial and academic partners.
• Lecturer at UPF Barcelona School of Management, where he taught courses on Chemical Principles and Carbon Footprint as part of the MSc in Sustainability Management.
• Lecturer at ESCI-UPF, contributing to postgraduate programs on Sustainability Transition and Climate Emergency, focusing on Carbon Footprint and Environmental Footprint methodologies.
• Final master supervisor at UNIR, guiding students through their final master thesis in the Industry 4.0 field.
• Process Engineer in the chemical industry (The Dow Chemical Company, Clariant, Transformadora de Etileno) for 3 years, gaining practical experience in industrial operations.